Council debates alcohol consumption
ordinance
Public Hearing
A public hearing will be held Monday, August 1, at
5:30p.m., in council chambers at city hall to consider an ordinance dealing
with the consumption of alcohol on private property. The council will consider
adoption of this ordinance at the regular council meeting that will follow at 6
p.m.
Town of Homer Ordinance # 11-906
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HOMER AMENDING THE TOWN OF
HOMER CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 3, SECTION 3-2 REGARDING RESTRICTION OF
POSSESSION AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
introduction of an ordinance brought unexpected fire from some council members
regarding a proposal that would amend the town’s laws on alcohol consumption in
public places.
If
Proposed Ordinance 11-906 is adopted, it would mean citizens would not be able
to drink alcohol in public places that do not have licenses to do so. It also
sets parameters for businesses.
At the
center of the debate is a pool hall and arcade in south Homer. There were
complaints about Rob’s Place regarding minors being at a place of business
where alcohol is consumed.
According
to town records, when the permit for the business was obtained, the application
had the business listed as a nonprofit. The idea was to give the kids a place
to go and get them off the streets.
Currently,
there is nothing in the town’s code of ordinances that regulates alcohol
consumption on private property, and District 2 Councilman Michael Wade said
there’s nothing wrong with that and the business is not out of line. However,
District 1 Councilwoman Linda Mozeke said that something needs to be in place.
Homer
Police Chief Russell Mills said in a separate interview that his department has
received numerous phone calls from parents and community members about the
presence of alcohol at the arcade. Because of the high volume of calls, the
Department of Alcohol Tobacco Control (ATC) was contacted. At that time, Mills
said, they accompanied the ATC to Rob’s Place where they did find an open
container in the trash can and one in the refrigerator. Also, at the time of
the search, five or six juveniles were inside Rob’s Place, Mills said.
“I
don’t have a problem with Rob’s Place as long as he operates under the code of
law,” Mills said.
In
relation to Rob’s Place, during the public comments portion of the meeting,
Alice Sims, of Homer, said she had a complaint about a curfew citation her
16-year-old daughter received recently when leaving Rob’s Place, saying she
should have gotten the citation and not her daughter. She said her daughter was
chaperoned. Also, her daughter was given the citation and left there at Rob’s
Place instead of the officer taking her to the police station and contacting
her.
She said
she talked to Chief Mills and he told her that Rob’s Place was no place for
kids. The pool hall was supposed to be a place for the kids, however, it has
changed. The town issued the business another occupational license for Rob’s
Pool Hall and Club, which changed Rob’s Place from an arcade for kids.
A
public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m., Monday, August 1, on the matter, and
will be voted on one way or another during the regular town council meeting.
In
other news, the council also debated raising water rates, which ended in a
split vote of 4-1 against raising rates. Wade was the lone vote in favor of
raising rates.
Mozeke said she was against
raising water rates until some of the other issues could be ironed out. And at
issue is the fact that the town’s collection rate as of 2009 was at less than
58 percent, not to mention all the places in town that have water service but
aren’t metered.
“How
are you going to raise our rates when we can’t collect even 58 percent?” Mozeke
asked.
“The
town has unmetered property and when you have unmetered property, you can’t
track water,” Homer Mayor Alecia Smith said. “We’re beginning to work on
getting meters on all unmetered premises. It is my belief that if we were to
meter the appropriate places that are not metered and have rates where they
should be according to Mr. Terry’s studies and the state’s studies, I think we
would do better.”
She
referred to a study done by Ken Terry, of the Louisiana Rural Water
Association, who said that the Town of Homer is only collecting 58 percent of
its water billed, and the town’s rates are well below average and need to be
raised to at least $8.31 to meet its debt service. These numbers are according
to the town’s 2009 audit.
“We’re
doing a lot better on collection,” Smith said, however, even if the town was
collecting 100 percent, they would still be below the state average.
And she
warned the council that even if they chose not to raise the rates, it would
hurt the town’s chances of receiving grants in the future.
In
fact, during the public comments portion of the meeting, Elmer Poss said he was
appalled at the percentages given.
“It’s
shocking and unacceptable,” he said.
During
the mayor’s report, for the month of June, water collection was at $92,505.
In
recreation news, Director Fred Young expressed his frustration with Blue Haven
Pools, the company hired to repair Mayfield Pool, and as of this date, it is
still not complete. According to his records, he said, the pool was supposed to
be finished by the end of May. Construction and repairs are almost complete,
but the pool can’t be opened until it meets code. Young encouraged the mayor to
take legal action to get the project completed. The issue was turned over to
the town attorney, Jim Colvin, to send a demand letter to let the company know
the town is serious.
Young
researched the company, and found at least seven complaints on the Better
Business Bureau’s website concerning Blue Haven -- all of which are similar to
the issues the town is facing with the company.
Also,
the council members discussed putting an ordinance in place to get 18-wheeler
tractor trailer rigs off the Square. However, in order to do that, the drafted
ordinance must be approved by the state because it is still technically a state
highway. Another issue brought to the table was appointing a member to the
police hiring committee. Wade suggested Terry Willis, but he asked for time to
think it over. The issue was to be placed on the August agenda.
The
council also approved the following:
•
Adoption of Ordinance 11-905, which is a franchise fee agreement.
•
Adoption of engineering services for the Louisiana Community Development Block
Grant (LCDBG) 2012-13 funding. Balar and Associates were the chosen engineers,
and the administrative consultant for the LCDBG program went to Harry Risner.
• The
renewal of a contract with John Menefee. The contract agreement increased
roughly $2,000 because of gas increases.
The
next meeting of the Homer Town Council will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, August
1, in council chambers located at Homer City Hall. A public hearing on Proposed
Ordinance 11-906 will be held at 5:30 p.m., preceding the regular meeting. For
more information, please contact City Hall at 318-927-3555.
Boy drowns in Lake Claiborne
The Guardian-Journal
A
little boy lost his life on Lake Claiborne two weekends ago.
On
Saturday, July 9, an 8-year-old boy drowned at the lake, however, it has been
ruled accidental, according to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey.
According
to Bailey, Carson Brayden Lynn, 8, was swimming with his cousin in about four
to five feet deep water. After about five or six minutes, his cousin couldn’t
find him. A search by family members began, at which time, Lynn was found at
the back end of a barge at a privately owned boat dock.
“The
people on scene performed CPR,” Bailey said, “and they were able to revive him.
But once paramedics arrived, they had to work on him again.”
However,
this time, Lynn was not revived. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his
remains were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab, where Dr. Frank Peretti
performed an autopsy.
His
death was ruled as accidental drowning. Bailey said there was no foul play
suspected.
“It was
just a tragic, tragic accident,” Bailey said.
Dunn stabbing case passed again
The Guardian-Journal
The
case of the girl accused of stabbing and killing a Homer man last year has been
passed yet again in the 2nd Judicial District Court Tuesday, July 12.
Patishi
S. Kirk, 22, of Homer, was arrested on July 3, 2010, and charged with second
degree murder in the death of Vincent Dunn. According to police, officers
responded to a call in reference to a stabbing in the 100 block of Hunter
Street that morning. When police arrived, Captain Donald Malray, of the Homer
Police Department, said Dunn was found in a bedroom inside the home.
Kirk
was detained and transported to the Claiborne Parish Women’s Facility because
the crowd in the yard was becoming unruly, Malray said in an earlier report.
When she was questioned, Malray said she confessed to the crime but offered no
motive behind the stabbing.
According
to police records, officers have been called to the same residence several
times in reference to domestic issues.
Chris
Bowman is Kirk’s attorney, and Assistant District Attorney Danny Newell is the
prosecutor in the case. Neither attorney returned phone calls.
Statewide burn ban lifted
Louisiana’s
statewide burn ban is expected to be lifted this Thursday as of 8 a.m.
Louisiana
State Fire Marshal “Butch” Browning and Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike
Strain said in a joint announcement that the burn ban will officially end this
Thursday.
In
Claiborne Parish, however, firefighters are still seeing rashes of grass and
woods fires, some set by accident, others set from downed power lines.
According
to Homer Fire Chief Dennis Butcher, Claiborne Parish was never under a burn ban
other than the state’s.
“Even
though the ban has been lifted, please exercise extreme caution, because
conditions are still pretty dry,” Butcher said. “If you burn and it gets out of
control and it burns someone else’s property, you are liable for it.”
Butcher
also emphasized that if conditions persist and fires get out of control, he
will issue a burn ban in Claiborne Parish.
He
reiterated the importance of using extreme caution because even though several
areas have seen rain, it’s still very dry. Here are some tips for those who
wish to burn outdoors
• Make
sure there is plenty of water around to douse the fire before it gets out of
control.
• Also
have a shovel and bucket handy to douse the flames with dirt if need be. If you
are burning in a field, it is suggested to dig a fire line around the area to
be burned.
• Stay
with the fire until it is completely out.
• Also,
do not burn on windy days.
For
fire safety in the home, make sure to have a working smoke detector in the
home. For those who need one and can’t afford one, please contact your local
fire department.
According
to published reports, the burn ban was issued because of extremely dry
conditions throughout the state. The state fire marshal’s office reported that
Louisiana was experiencing an average of 300 fires and nearly 4,000 acres lost
per month because of the drought conditions.
For
more information, please call your local fire department.
Seeking support for library expansion
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Claiborne Parish Library is close to beginning its expansion, however,
Librarian Pam Suggs is asking for the community’s support.
In
October, the library tax renewal will be up for a vote, and she is asking the
community pass the renewal, but not for 10 years. The ballot item is asking for
a 20-year renewal in order to guarantee the bank the loan can be repaid.
Suggs
spoke to the Homer Lions Club Thursday, July 14, and explained that in the
process of seeking funding for the project, it was suggested the best way to
get it is to go through a bank loan. Some money has been put back for the
expansion, but it’s just not quite enough.
“We
have been working on this project for a number of years,” Suggs said. “We hired
an architect and did some initial studies about expanding, and we decided that
we were going to try to save some money towards this project. Last year, there
was a big push from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) for some
low interest loans, but it’s a very complicated process.”
Danny
Magee, a consultant, was hired to analyze all the information put together.
Bids from local banks were requested, and one bank would offer the loan at a
better rate than the USDA loan would have, she said.
With
that said, the library’s current millage would expire during this time. The
6.10 millage rate is sufficient enough to repay the loan, but before the bank
will agree to loan them the money, they are asking for a guarantee that the
loan would be repaid. In order to do that, the millage renewal would have to be
renewed not just for 10 years, but for 20.
“We’re
not asking for any extra money,” she said. “It’s going to be the same rate that
we’ve had for the past 20 years. This would cover the amount for the length of
the loan, and we think we can pay off the loan before the 20 years is up.”
The
cost of the entire project is approximately $3 million. The expansion would
include an additional 9,500 square feet to the existing 6,000 square foot
building. The expansion will include a larger public meeting room, a children’s
area, a computer lab, more restroom facilities, more parking space and
improvements to the existing building.
The
expansion would go west of the existing building and then south.
The
library offers an array of services, including easy accessibility and
convenient hours, a variety of books and a bookmobile service. It also offers
services in education, including online homework help for elementary through
college age students, certified training classes in all Microsoft Office
products, access to genealogy information, and interactive learning platforms.
The library also offers excellent customer service as well as technology, which
includes 30 public access computers, all 2007 Microsoft Office Products and
internet and wireless services as well as copying and faxing services for a
nominal fee.
The
ballot item will read as follows:
PROPOSITION
(TAX RENEWAL)
Summary:
20 year 6.10 mills property tax renewal for constructing, maintaining and
operating public libraries in Claiborne Parish.
Shall
the Parish of Claiborne, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), continue to levy a
tax of six and ten hundredths (6.10) mills on all the property subject to
taxation in the Parish (an estimated $1,037,000 reasonably expected at this
time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period
of twenty (20) years, beginning with the year 2016 and ending with the year
2035, for the purpose of constructing, maintaining and operating public
libraries in the Parish?
The
proposition will be on the October 22 ballot. Suggs reminded everyone that this
is NOT A NEW TAX. It is a renewal of what they are already receiving.
For
more information, or for questions, please call the library at 318-927-3845, or
go to www.youseemore.com/claiborne.
Blood drive slated for August 11
A high
school student needs the community’s help.
Brittney
Green, a student at Bastrop High School, was diagnosed with leukemia less than
six months until she graduates. Vibrant and active, Green played basketball,
participated in track, and worked after school.
She
needs healthy stem cells in order to save her life.
On
Thursday, August 11, from noon until 5 p.m., Lifeshare Blood Center, along with
Homer Memorial Hospital, will host a blood drive. And along with the blood
drive, applications and mouth swabs will be available for all generally healthy
donors between the ages of 18-60. These swabs will be tested to see if any are
a match to Green.
“Thousands
of patients depend on the “Be The Match” registry to find a donor who can give
them a second chance at life,” states the website BeTheMatch.org. “You have the
power to heal, the power to save a life. Take the first step. Join the
registry.”
According
to their website, the National Marrow Donor Program and the Be The Match
Foundation are nonprofit organizations dedicated to creating an opportunity for
all patients to receive the bone marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant they
need when they need it.
For
more information on the marrow registry, please call Marguerite Allen, marrow
coordinator, at 318-673-7534 or Gaye Brunson at Homer Memorial Hospital at 318-927-2024.
Please
join the hospital in connecting with the Be The Match Foundation as they embark
on the mission of saving lives. To join, a donor only needs to be between the
ages of 18-60, be willing to donate to any patient in need and meet the health
guidelines.
LWC lends hand to RIF teachers, staff
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Claiborne
Parish teachers and staff laid off in the school board’s Reduction in Force
were given an opportunity by the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) to learn
about the benefits they offer those who’ve been laid off.
On
Tuesday, July 12, the Rapid Response team met with teachers in the Homer High
School auditorium to show them the benefits, programs and workshops they offer
in finding a job.
Jacques
Lasseigne, director of field operations for the LWC, said they offer workshops
on how to construct a resume and others, including a workshop on the array of
emotions workers go through after being laid off.
“There
are a lot of emotions,” Lasseigne said. “It’s a shock to anybody. The people
that are on these rapid response teams have been through layoffs themselves, so
they have the empathy to understand.”
They
also offer information on unemployment benefits, how to look for work,
financial planning and ways to obtain training if they want to tweak where they
are or go into another field.
“This
works on a more individual basis,” he said.
The
rapid response team goes into the communities that have significant layoffs, in
this case, from the Claiborne Parish School system.
Teachers,
paraprofessionals and support staff were given notice at the end of the school
year that they no longer had a job at the beginning of the school board’s
fiscal year. Some 60 employees were given notice, however, when it was time to
shift faculty and staff, some recalls were initiated. As of press time Tuesday evening,
five employees were recalled, with only seven vacancies left, according to
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janice Williams.
In May,
those laid off expressed their outrage and feelings of betrayal to the school
board. Some said they had no idea the school board’s financial position is as
bad as it is.
The
school board’s budget is made up of 88 percent salaries and benefits. Much of
the other money it receives is earmarked per state or federal regulations, and
it cannot spend the funds on anything else other than what it’s intended for.
The
school board has also had to deal with significant increases in healthcare
premiums, retirement and other costs, all the while losing Minimum Foundation
Program (MFP) funds as the student population in Claiborne Parish continues to
decline.
MFP
funds are state monies that pay salaries and benefits and is based on student
population.
CPSB
Business Manager Fred Evans reported to the school board that he is projecting
the student population’s decline to continue at least through the 2016 school
year. And if the revenues don’t improve, he said, another round of layoffs
could be on the table at the end of the 2011-12 school year.
Boy suffers minor injuries after dog
bite
The Guardian-Journal
A
13-year-old boy was bitten by a dog Monday afternoon, suffering only minor
injuries.
According
to police, they responded to a call from Homer Memorial Hospital in reference
to the bite. Police Chief Russell Mills said the incident occurred in the 1400
block of Monroe Street, where a whitish pit bull was chained in its owner’s
back yard. The boy entered the back yard and while he was petting the dog, it
began growling and bit him. Reports say most of the damage to his left hand
happened when he jerked his hand away from the dog.
The male
dog weighed between 60 to 70 pounds.
The boy
was taken to the hospital as a precaution, police said, and the parents did not
want to contact authorities. However, since he was taken to the hospital, the
hospital was obligated to report the incident to police.
The pit
bull was seized and taken to Claiborne Animal Clinic, where he underwent some
testing.
The boy
was released from the hospital with only minor injuries to the palm of his left
hand. The dog was still in custody as of press time.
Homer boy’s cancer treatments continue
JENNI WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter
Ten-year-old
Jamal Webb is a Homer Elementary fourth-grade student with lymphoblastic
leukemia, but doesn’t allow it to slow him down.
Leukemia
is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, the spongy center
of bones where our blood cells are formed. The disease develops when blood
cells produced in the bone marrow grow out of control.
Lymphoblastic
leukemia (ALL) accounts for about 20 to 25 percent of all childhood cancer and is
the most common type of childhood leukemia, accounting for about 75 to 80
percent of childhood leukemias.
Treatment
for ALL is a long-term process. Chemotherapy and other treatments for the
disease may take two years or more to complete.
Unable
to play organized sports due to the port in his chest wall where he receives
weekly chemotherapy treatments, Jamal is still able to enjoy a good time with
his two brothers, nine and 12, and older sister, who is 18.
Jamal
is the son of Latora Webb and Jamayne Jackson, and grandson of James and Annie
B. Jackson and James Webb.
Jamal
and his mom spend a lot of time on the road. From weekly trips to Shreveport
for chemo treatments and the occasional three-week stay in Memphis, expenses
for this family are adding up quickly.
An
account was set up in the spring at Regions Bank entitled “Benefit Account for
Jamal Webb,” and the community is encouraged to help the Webb family.
In
addition to Jamal’s weekly trips to Shreveport, he will soon make a two-day
trip to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at the beginning of August for
a spinal tap for chemotherapy and a check of his bone marrow.
He will
return home for a few weeks then head back to Memphis at the end of August for
a Stage 2 Reduction treatment which will last approximately three weeks.
During
this time, Jamal and his mom will stay at a Ronald McDonald House as his health
permits.
The
Webbs will return home after the specialized treatment and if Jamal’s immune
system is in good shape, he will be able to return to school to begin fourth
grade.
The
family asks that everyone continue their prayers for their family and wishes to
say thank you in advance for your generosity in donating to Jamal’s account to
offset the many medical expenses.
